A man from the Antelope Valley has been arrested following a federal indictment accusing him of distributing fentanyl, leading to four fatal overdoses in Palmdale last year. The Justice Department announced the arrest of Damian Michael Evans, 46, on Thursday. Evans is scheduled for arraignment this afternoon at the United States District Court in Los Angeles.
The charges against Evans include one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, along with multiple counts related to the possession and intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and MDMA. Additionally, he faces charges for possessing a firearm and ammunition linked to drug trafficking activities and being a felon in possession of firearms.
According to the indictment returned on Wednesday, Evans allegedly distributed fentanyl on January 15, 2024, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals. He is also accused of possessing other illegal narcotics around late 2023 and early 2024 after these incidents.
Evans reportedly possessed a revolver and ammunition illegally due to his past criminal record. His history includes ten felony convictions between 1997 and 2016 in Los Angeles Superior Court, mostly related to drug offenses.
It is important to note that an indictment is only an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
If convicted on all counts, Evans could face a minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison with a maximum potential life sentence.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) are investigating this case as part of their Overdose Justice Program and Overdose Response Task Force respectively. Assistant United States Attorney Brittney M. Harris from the Transnational Organized Crime Section is handling the prosecution.